California State University, Sacramento
Study Abroad Program

Study in France at the University of Paris

The study abroad program between the Paris Consortium (Universités de Paris III through XIII) and California State University, Sacramento was established in 1985. The coordinating offices for the program are, respectively, the Mission Inter-universitaire de Coordination des Échanges Franco-Américains (MICEFA) in Paris and the Office of Global Education at California State University, Sacramento.

COURSE OFFERINGS

Students who would like to study in France while still enrolled at this university have an outstanding opportunity through this one-semester study abroad program. Courses offered in Paris include basic sciences, applied sciences, engineering, computer sciences, business and economics, international affairs, fine arts, human and social sciences. The following are the principal fields of study by campus:

Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle) http://www.univ-paris3.fr Film Studies, Theatre Studies, Communications, Economics, Politics, Legal Studies, English and American Studies, Language Studies, and Oriental Languages and Civilizations. This campus offers courses of French as a Second Language as well as Teaching French as a Second
Language.

Paris IV (Sorbonne) http://www.paris4.sorbonne.fr Classical and Modern Literature, Language Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Mathematics and Management Information Systems, General Linguistics, Communications, History, Geography, Art History,
Music, Physical Education.

Paris V (René Descartes) http://www.univ-paris5.fr/ Psychology, Sciences of
Education, Mathematics, Formal Logic, Computer Science, General and Applied
Linguistics, Social Sciences, and Medical Studies.

Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie) http://www.upmc.fr Pure and Applied Mathematics, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Statistics and Computer Science, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, Zoology, and Earth Science.

Paris VII (Denis Diderot) http://www.diderotp7.jussieu.fr Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, English Studies, Linguistics, History, Geography,
Economics, Mathematics and Information Technology, Asian Languages and
Civilization, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Communication Studies, Environmental Studies.

Paris VIII (Vincennes à St. Denis) http://www.univ-paris8.fr/ Art History, Film
Studies, Music Theory, Theatre Studies, Dance, Philosophy, Photography, Psychology and Psychoanalysis, Sciences of Education, Urban Studies, Economics and Political Science, Computer Science, Modern Languages, Linguistics, Literature, English and American Studies, European Studies, History, Geography and Ecology, Humanities, Sociology, Women's Studies, Communication Studies, Business Administration. This campus offers French courses for foreigners.

Paris IX (Dauphine) http://www.dauphine.fr/ Applied Economics, Management and Business Administration.

Paris X (Nanterre) http://www.u-paris10.fr/ English and American Studies, History, Philosophy, Economics, Management, Social Science, Greek and Latin, Modern
Languages, Linguistics, Law, Physical Education, Arts. This campus offers French courses for foreigners.

Paris XI (Sud) http://www.u-psud.fr/ Pure and Applied Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry, Life Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Computer Sciences, Political Sciences and Law, Sports Science and Physical Education, Medical Sciences, Earth Sciences, Economics.

Paris XII (Val-de-Marne) http://www.univ-paris12.fr/ Communications, Experimental Medicine, Human Biology, Law,
Economics, Management, Arts, Humanities, and Urban Planning. This campus offers French courses for foreigners.

Paris XIII (Nord) http://www.univ-paris13.fr/ Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physical Measures, Law, Political and Social Sciences, Economics, Business Management and Administration, Marketing, Literature, Communications, Hygiene and Safety.

The Paris program is designed for students whose preparation in the French language is sufficient to permit them to enroll in a course of study primarily within the regular departments of the appropriate University of Paris institution; however, four universities, Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle), Paris VIII (St. Denis), Paris X (Nanterre), and Paris XII (Val-de-Marne) offer courses for foreign students. These classes are designed for students who need support with the French language while pursuing coursework either within the programs for foreign students or in the other departments of the university.

Four levels of language support classes are offered through the Français pour Étudiants Étrangers (FETE) program at Nanterre. Students are placed at one of the three levels based either on a university placement test or through consultation with the PLP instructor. Students in Level 1 classes must have a good working knowledge of French from the outset although some
accommodation is made for students with lesser language facility. Level 2 classes demand a more advanced level of written and oral French and focus on refinement of grammar, vocabulary, written, and oral expression. Levels 3 and 4 students normally enroll in courses at the university with French students in a variety of disciplines while continuing to perfect their written and oral language skills through an advanced language support course. Students at all levels select courses in French civilization, also offered in the FETE program. These classes are open to all levels. More specific information concerning course offerings can be obtained from the Office of Global Education or the home page of the individual campus.

MICEFA offers a few courses throughout the year which help students better understand their cultural and linguistic environment. Examples of these courses are French University Composition and Methodology for students needing help in preparing their courses at French universities (advanced course), Higher Intermediate Grammar, History of Paris, History of the French, History of French Gastronomy, and 19th Century French Painting: Impressionism and beyond. MICEFA also offers cultural visits and excursions throughout the year.

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ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should have upper division standing with a declared major or classifiedgraduate standing at this university by the time of departure, good academic records, a 2.75 cumulative grade point average for undergraduates and a 3.0 for graduates or better at the time of the application deadline, and a minimum of two years of college-level French or the equivalent. The applicant also should be prepared to accept the challenge of study in a country with an educational system different from our own. The Writing Proficiency Examination must have been passed at this university prior to departure, and, in most cases, the lower division courses of the appropriate field of study must have been completed prior to participation in this program. Only one semester applications will be considered for this program. There is one graduate assistantship available in Paris for a graduate student with an advanced level of proficiency in French. The assistantship is available on a year-long basis only. The student who receives the assistantship also must be a full-time student at the University of Paris. Students wishing to apply for one academic year (but not the assistantship) should apply to the California State University International Program in Paris. Students are required to be full-time while studying in Paris and, thus, take the equivalent of 15 units during each semester for undergraduates and 12 units per semester for graduates.

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GRADUATE MAJOR IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Students wishing to declare a special graduate major in International Studies with an emphasis on French in order to maximize course equivalencies for courses taken in French should speak with Monica Freeman in the Office of Global Education about this possibility.

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SCHOLARSHIP

For information on scholarships for study abroad, you should register for and attend a scholarship workshop in the Office of Global Education.

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CALENDAR

The orientation and language preparatory program, in which all students are encouraged to participate, takes place from around the end of August until the end of September. The regular fall semester classes begin in early October and end around late January or early February (depending on the university) with about two weeks off for Christmas vacation. The orientation and language preparatory program for the spring semester begins in January. The regular spring semester classes are from mid-February to mid-June with about two weeks off for Easter vacation.

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HOUSING

There are several housing options for students in Paris. Locating housing is generally each individual student’s responsibility, although the MICEFA staff is available to provide housing leads and assist in this area. The MICEFA can arrange for a student to stay in a room in a student residence for the first two weeks in September while he/she is looking for more permanent housing. The student would need to make a reservation with payment in advance. Other short-term housing possibilities for when you first arrive are: Maison Internationale de la Jeunesse et des Etudiants, Accueil des Jeunes en France, and Paris Youth Hostels. Students will have access to student restaurants and all other facilities available to French students. There are a number of different possibilities for long-term housing: au pair positions, chambres de bonne, apartment shares, student foyers (similar to student dormitories), and living with a French family. Graduate students may stay at the Fondation des États-Unis (a dormitory facility). More detailed information on housing possibilities and contacts is listed under the Housing section of the MICEFA Student Guide (see website below).

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FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Students accepted to the program will pay the usual California State University, Sacramento fees, remaineligible for financial aid (except work/study), if otherwise qualified, and receive resident credit just as if they were attending classes at this university. (Please note that equivalency of courses falls under the jurisdiction of the academic department.) The Paris Consortium has agreed to waive non-resident tuition, making this a particularly attractive opportunity for participants. Students will pay for their travel to and from France, room and board, books, and incidentals. In addition, each student must have the required insurance during his or her stay in France. Expenses for the semester in France are estimated at the following: usual undergraduate fees - $1,779 (graduates would pay the graduate fee), round-trip transportation - $870, room and board - $5,000, insurance - $200, personal expenses, including clothing, entertainment, books, postage, and incidentals - $2,000. Total $9,849. This estimate is given for planning purposes only and is subject to changes from currency fluctuation, inflation, and fee changes. Keep in mind that the costs to obtain a passport and a student visa are not included in this estimate.

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YOU SHOULD CONSULT THESE RESOURSES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

You should consult these resources for further information:

The Office of Global Education home page: http://www.csus.edu/oge/

The MICEFA home page: http://micefa.org/

The MICEFA Student Guide: http://micefa.org/american/guide/index.html

The home pages of the various campuses of The University of Paris (see front of flyer)

The University of Paris catalogs available at the Office of Global Education

Information on the French education system: http://www.education.gouv.fr

Information on France: http://www.lonelyplanet.com

To obtain an application or to speak with a study abroad advisor, please call the Office of Global Education at 278-6686 or visit Lassen Hall, Room 2304. Applications, references and transcripts should be sent to the address below. The deadline for materials to be received is February 29 for the fall semester or October 1 for the spring semester. The deadline for materials to be received for the one-year graduate assistantship is December 15. Please note that there is an interview process for this application, also.

last update 8/07